Remote control for power drives



p 1952 A. A. SCHMITZ 2,509,701

REMOTE comm. FOR POWER DRIVES Filed Feb. 20, 1950 INVENTOR ALBERT A.SCHMITZ ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE 2,609,701 r l a j, 1

REMOTE CONTROL FOR POWERDRIVES Albert A. Schmitz, Racine, Wis.

Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,291

This invention appertains to power transmissions, clutches and the like, and more particularly to a novel means for operating a power drive mechanism from a point remote from the mechanism.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a means for engaging or disengaging a friction clutch or tightening or loosening a belt around a driving and driven pulley by the use of a lever or the like (through a rope or other means attached thereto) actuated in a single direction for engaging or disengaging the drive, said rope or other means reaching a variable dis tance or in various directions around sheaves if necessary to the location of the operator.

Another salient object of the invention is to provide a means for transforming the consecutive forward movements of a lever to alternate forward and backward movement of a link connected to and actuating another device such as a clutch, or bell crank, etc.

A further salient object of the invention is the provision of a bell crank lever having an idle pulley for engaging the slack run of a drive belt with means connected to said bell crank for moving the idle pulley into and out of position for taking up slack, said means including a crank wheel rotatable in one direction and alink operatively connected to the crank wheel and bell crank with means for positively rotating the crank wheel one-half a revolution on each operation of a lever in the same direction, by a flexible pull member.

Another prime object of my invention is to so-arrange the crank wheel and link, that said link will be on dead center when the idle pulley is in its position for taking up slack in the belt, whereby said pulley will be maintained in its operative position against accidental movement.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for operatively connecting the cable operated lever to the crank wheel through positively connected sprocket wheels, gears or the like, the movement of the lever being such on each forward operation thereof, that the sprocket wheels or gears will turn the crank wheel ex-- actly one-half a revolution.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing,

Figure l, is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating one use of my novel operating device 2 Claims. (Cl. i k-242.1)

for a power transmission, the power transmission being shown as a belt and pulleys with the belt in its tightened position for establishing a drive between a power shaft and a driven shaft. I

Figure 2, is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the idle pulley moved away from the belt'for bringing about the discontinuance of the drive between the power shaft and the driven shaft.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C generally indicates a power transmission or'belt tightener clutch, and as illustrated the same includes a drive or power shaft 5 operatively connected to a driven shaft 6 throughthe medium of pulleys land 8, keyed or otherwise secured to the shafts 5 and 6 and coupled by a drive belt 9. The drive belt 9 can be of the V type, if preferred, and normally thebelt is slack, as shown in Figure 2, and when the belt is slack there is no driving connection between the shafts 5 and 6. While, I have illustrated pulleys and a belt, it is to be understood that my invention can be applied to a friction clutch.

To bring about a driving connection, such as between shafts 5 and 6, a bell crank lever 'lll is employed and one arm of the lever carries an idle pulley H, and when the crank is operated,

as shown in Figure 1, to bring the pulley ll into engagement with the lower run of the belt to take up the slack therein, the driving connection between shafts 5 and 6 will be established. Novel means is provided for operating the bell crank lever III, or other clutch member, at a point remote from the drive and in such a manner that the operating member is moved in one direction only for bringing about the raising and lowering of the pulley i I into and out of engagement with the belt 9. My novel mechanism includes a shaft I! having keyed or otherwise secured thereto a sprocket wheel 13 and a ratchet wheel ii. If preferred, the ratchet wheel I4 can form a part of the hub of the sprocket wheel I3. Mounted for free turning movement on the shaft i2 is an operating lever 15 and this lever carries a pivoted spring pressed dog l6 for operative engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel [4, when the lever is moved in one direction. A contractile coil spring I! is connected to the lever and is employed for returning the lever to its normal inoperative position, after operation by an attendant. Adjacent to the sprocket wheel 13, is a second small sprocket wheel l8 mounted for free rotation and the sprocket wheels l3 and 3 18 are positively connected by a sprocket chain l9. The sprocket wheel I8 can also be in the nature of a'crank wheel and consequently the same is provided with an eccentrically disposed crank pin 20. The lower arm of the bell crank l and the crank pin 20 are operatively connected by a link 2 I. While, I have shown sprocket wheels and a sprocket chain, as a positive connection, obviously, other equivalent means can be used in lieu. thereof, such as gearing. As heretofore brought out, one of the important features of the invention is that, upon each operation of the lever l5, the sprocket wheel 18 willbe moved one-half a revolution, so that. the. link.

2| will be on one side of the sprocket wheel (see Figure 1), upon movement of the lever l, and' on the other side of the sprocket wheel (see.

Figure 2) upon operation of the'lever [5' again in the same direction. This is accomplished by.

the teeth ratio of sprockets l3 and I8 and ratchet wheel. I 4. In the. present instance, wheel I3 is provided with 35' teeth and sprocket wheel l8 is provided with 14 teeth. Ratchet wheel I4 is provided with 5 teeth. Thus every time wheel l3makes arevolution, sprocket wheel l8 will make a revolution. To limit the movement of the lever l5 stops 22 and 23 are provided there- ,for.- My device is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with a piece of machinery pulled .by a tractor and'by connecting a flexible. member,

such asa rope or. cable 24 to the lever [5, the lever .can be actuated by the driver of. the tractor. Thus a pull on the rope 24' in the same direction will operate the lever. I5 for connecting or. disconnecting a drive.

Considering that. the device is in the position shownin Figure 1, with the belt tightened, and it is desired to bring about the discontinuance of. the drive betweenshafts 5 and 6, the rope. 24

is, pulled to the right (Figure 1) and. the lever 15 is moved to the right and. ratchet wheel M will besmoved the distance of 1 tooth and sprocket wheel [3. a. distance of A of its complete. revolution. Link- 2lwill be pulled rearwardly to the position shown. in Figure 2,. andv upon release of lever 15 spring IT will. return. the lever to its .norma-lposition against stop 22 and the doglfi will ratchet over the ratchet wheel l4 and. engage the next. new tooth. When it isdesired to tighten the; beIt,-.then.the rope. 24 is againpulledl to. the

4 right (Figure 2), and the lever 15 is given an other movement to the right and the link 2| will be thrust forwardly to the position in Figure 1. It is to be noted that the position of the link 2| in Figure 1, is such that the link is on dead center and consequently the idle pulley H will be held on its elevated position against accidental displacement.

Changes in details may be made without departing" from the spirit or' the scopev of the invention, but what is claimed as newi's:

1. In an operating device for connecting and disconnecting a power drive, a crank wheel, an actuating lever, alink operatively connecting the crank wheel to the actuating lever, the connection of the link with the crank wheel being eccentric. with respect. to. the axis of the crank wheel, an operating member, and means for rotating theicrank wheel a revolution upon each movement of the operating member in the same direction, saidlink being on dead center upon each operation of the crank" wheel.

2; In a devicefor establishing a drive between a" drive and a driven shaft including pulley wheels on said shafts and a connecting pulley belt, a bell crank lever, an idle pulley on one arm of said bell crank lever for engaging the lower run of the belt, a crank wheel, a link operativelyconnecting the crank. wheel to the other armof the bell crank, the connection of thev link with the crankwheel being, eccentric, with respect to the. axis of the crank wheel, an operating member, and. meansfor rotating the crankwheel a revolution upon eachmovement of the-operating member in the same direction, said. link being on dead center upon-each operation of. the crank wheel.

ALBERT A. SCHMITZ.-

' REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDISTA'IYES. PATENTS" Datef 1,422,809, Anderson July 18., 1922 

